1,500 homes in Heywood now able to access ultrafast broadband

• Full fibre to the premises (FTTP) technology with average top speeds of 516Mbps

• Virgin Media’s broadband speeds are nearly 13 times faster than the local average
• 4K movies and computer games downloaded in minutes
• Virgin Media’s engineers have worked throughout the Covid-19 pandemic to ensure that new customers have access to vital connectivity when they need it most

Virgin Media has connected 1,500 homes in Heywood, Rochdale, to its ultrafast broadband network which will bring the UK’s fastest widely available speeds to the area.

As part of its ‘Project Lightning’ network expansion programme, Virgin Media is expanding its ultrafast broadband network across the UK, bringing average top speeds of 516Mbps to residents and small businesses.

The company is also bringing next generation gigabit broadband to its entire network of 15 million homes by the end of 2021 as part of its new hyperfast Gig1 service.

Virgin Media has continued to expand its network during the global COVID-19 pandemic in order to provide ultrafast connectivity to more homes and businesses across the UK when they need it most.

It has also been able to connect new customers after implementing a range of measures to keep customers and staff safe, including supporting customers to install their own services and practicing social distancing.

Ultrafast broadband boost for Heywood residents – now nearly 13 times faster than the local average.

Virgin Media’s ultrafast broadband speeds are nearly 13 times faster than the local average*. Heywood will benefit from fibre to the premises (FTTP) technology which allows for smooth, reliable connectivity in the home. With a 516Mbps connection, files, films and games become very quick to stream, download and upload:

• Download a standard HD movie file (5GB) in less than a minute and a half, compared to almost 18 minutes on the average local connection;
• Download a 25GB console game in seven minutes, compared to nearly 90 minutes on the average local connection**

Paul Hutchinson, Regional Director for North West at Virgin Media, said: “Ultrafast broadband ensures that our customers can spend more of their time online doing the things that really matter to them. That’s why we are excited to announce that an additional 1,500 homes in Heywood are now able to experience speeds of up to 516Mbps, some of the fastest broadband speeds in the country.”

Virgin Media’s Oomph bundles

By combining broadband, TV, home phone and mobile into one bundle, Virgin Media’s Oomph packages offer outstanding value for customers.

With the Ultimate Oomph bundle, customers can enjoy the ultimate entertainment and connectivity experience at home or on the move.

This includes the UK’s fastest widely available broadband with average top speeds of 516Mbps – seven times faster than BT and Sky – as well as a mobile SIM with truly unlimited data, texts and calls.

Plus, there’s brilliant TV with two of Virgin TV’s latest V6 set-top boxes complete with more than 250 channels including Sky Sports, Sky Cinema and BT Sport in 4K Ultra HD, as well as inclusive anytime landline calls.

For those interested in Virgin Media’s fantastic services, they can go online now to check out our latest deals > https://www.virginmedia.com/

Ends

Notes to Editors

More information about how Virgin Media people are helping the country stay connected can be found HERE.

*The average (median) broadband speed in Rochdale is 40Mbps. Source: Ofcom, Connected Nations Report 2019, published 18 December 2019.

** Download speeds calculated using www.download-time.com